What's Bill Gates reading these days? Billionaire‘s summer list is out, ‘The Power' & 'The Lincoln Highway' among top reads

For Bill Gates, the summer season isn't about lazing around on the beach or travelling to an exotic country but all about putting on reading glasses and indulging in some quality times with books.

The world's one of the richest men has compiled a list of his top-five books best to read during this summer. While sharing his list, the 66-year-old warned that the topic that it covers may sound pretty heavy for vacation reading.

Gates' suggested list consists of books about gender equality, political polarisation, climate change and the 'hard truth that life never goes the way young people think it will'.


The list includes books from three novelists, a journalist and a scientist who were able to "take a meaty subject and make it compelling without sacrificing any complexity".

"I loved all five of these books and hope you find something here you’ll enjoy too," Gates said.

Here are the five top books from Gates' go-to list.

'The Power' by Naomi Alderman
According to Gates, the book by Alderman "cleverly uses a single idea—what if all the women in the world suddenly gained the power to produce deadly electric shocks from their bodies?—to explore gender roles and gender equality."

The book helps the billionaire gain a "stronger and more visceral sense of the abuse and injustice many women experience today."

'Why We’re Polarized' by Ezra Klein
The business magnate says that the book is fundamentally about American politics, but it's also a fascinating look at human psychology.

"I’m generally optimistic about the future, but one thing that dampens my outlook a bit is the increasing polarization in America, especially when it comes to politics," Gates said.

'The Lincoln Highway' by Amor Towles
While listing this book, the philanthropist said that he liked this follow-up novel more than Towles's 'A Gentleman in Moscow', which was on his summer books list in 2019.

Set in 1954, the book is about two brothers who are trying to drive from Nebraska to California to find their mother, but their trip is thrown way off-course by a volatile teenager from the older brother’s past.

'The Ministry for the Future' by Kim Stanley Robinson
Gates revealed that when he was promoting his book on climate change in 2021, many people had suggested that he read 'The Ministry for the Future' by Kim Stanley Robinson.

"... a number of people told me I should read this novel, because it dramatized many of the issues I had written about. I’m glad I picked it up, because it’s terrific," the 66-year-old said.

The businessman applauded the author for presenting a stimulating and engaging story out of a complex topic.

"It’s so complex that it’s hard to summarize, but Robinson presents a stimulating and engaging story, spanning decades and continents, packed with fascinating ideas and people," he added.

'How the World Really Works' by Vaclav Smil
For Gates, this book by Smil, one of his favourite authors, is nothing short of a "masterpiece".

"If you want a brief but thorough education in numeric thinking about many of the fundamental forces that shape human life, this is the book to read. It’s a tour de force," Gates said.